U.S. patent number 5,621,451 [Application Number 07/988,913] was granted by the patent office on 1997-04-15 for image forming apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Nobukazu Adachi, Jun Azuma, Tatsuo Hamada, Noriyoshi Ishikawa, Takeshi Kubota, Akira Kuroda, Ken Murooka, Takeshi Niimura, Takeshi Setoriyama, Takeshi Sugita, Yoshinori Sugiura, Chitose Tenpaku, Yoshiro Tsuchiya, Akira Yuza.
United States Patent |
5,621,451 |
Sugiura , et al. |
April 15, 1997 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Image forming apparatus
Abstract
An image forming apparatus for performing a recording operation
with respect to a recording medium, includes an image forming
device for forming an image on a recording medium, a recording
medium receiver for receiving the recording medium on which the
image is formed, and a laser beam emitter, arranged below the
recording medium receiver, for emitting a laser beam in accordance
with image information so as to cause the image forming device to
form an image. The laser beam emitter is arranged below the
recording medium receiver to emit a laser beam obliquely
upward.
Inventors: |
Sugiura; Yoshinori (Kawasaki,
JP), Ishikawa; Noriyoshi (Yokohama, JP),
Setoriyama; Takeshi (Yokohama, JP), Tenpaku;
Chitose (Kawasaki, JP), Hamada; Tatsuo (Tokyo,
JP), Tsuchiya; Yoshiro (Yokohama, JP),
Kubota; Takeshi (Tama, JP), Murooka; Ken (Tokyo,
JP), Niimura; Takeshi (Musashino, JP),
Adachi; Nobukazu (Yokohama, JP), Kuroda; Akira
(Yokohama, JP), Sugita; Takeshi (Yokohama,
JP), Yuza; Akira (Yokohama, JP), Azuma;
Jun (Kawasaki, JP) |
Assignee: |
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
14070077 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/988,913 |
Filed: |
March 11, 1993 |
PCT
Filed: |
January 18, 1993 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/JP93/00054 |
371
Date: |
March 11, 1993 |
102(e)
Date: |
March 11, 1993 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO94/15792 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
July 21, 1994 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
347/112; 347/129;
347/224; 399/1; 399/111; 399/154 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J
2/442 (20130101); B41J 2/471 (20130101); B41J
13/00 (20130101); G03G 15/326 (20130101); G03G
15/6529 (20130101); H04N 1/1135 (20130101); G03G
15/04072 (20130101); G03G 21/1623 (20130101); G03G
2221/183 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B41J
13/00 (20060101); B41J 2/44 (20060101); G03G
15/00 (20060101); G03G 15/32 (20060101); H04N
1/113 (20060101); G03G 015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;355/210,21A,200,285,211
;346/108,76L ;347/112,129,224,225 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0255713 |
|
Feb 1988 |
|
EP |
|
487040 |
|
May 1992 |
|
EP |
|
61-279871 |
|
Dec 1986 |
|
JP |
|
1222269 |
|
Sep 1989 |
|
JP |
|
Primary Examiner: Moses; R. L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper &
Scinto
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording
medium, said apparatus comprising:
a mounting mechanism for removably mounting a process cartridge,
the process cartridge including an electrophotographic
photosensitive member, a charging roller to charge said
photosensitive member, a developing member to develop a latent
image formed on said photosensitive member and a cleaning member to
remove residual toner from said photosensitive member;
a transfer device for transferring a toner image, formed on said
electrophotographic photosensitive member, onto the recording
medium;
a fixing device for fixing the toner image, transferred onto the
recording medium by said transfer device, on the recording
medium;
a laser beam emitter, arranged between said process cartridge
mounted onto said mounting mechanism and said fixing device to be
located within a height of said process cartridge mounted onto said
mounting mechanism in a vertical direction, for emitting a laser
beam in accordance with image information;
a feed cassette for storing the recording medium, said feed
cassette arranged below said process cartridge, said laser beam
emitter, and said fixing device to extend therealong;
a recording medium receiver for receiving a recording medium on
which an image has been formed; and
a conveying mechanism for guiding a recording medium fed from said
feed cassette to a position between said electrophotographic
photosensitive member and said transfer device by reversing a path
travelled by the recording medium, and guiding the recording
medium, on which a toner image has been transferred from said
electrophotographic photosensitive member and which has passed
through said fixing device, to the recording medium receiver by
reversing the path of the recording medium again,
wherein the recording medium receiver is arranged on an upper
surface of an apparatus main body so as to be inclined obliquely
upward in the same direction as a direction in which said laser
beam emitter emits the laser beam
wherein said recording medium receiver receives a recording medium
discharged from an apparatus main body while a leading end of the
recording medium is laid substantially horizontally and a trailing
end of the recording medium is inclined,
wherein said mounting mechanism, said laser beam emitter, and said
fixing device are arranged so as to not overlap each other in a
vertical direction, and
wherein said laser beam emitter is arranged between said process
cartridge and said fixing device for fixing an image on the
recording medium so as not to overlap said process cartridge and
said fixing device in a vertical direction.
2. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording
medium, comprising:
an image bearing member;
image forming means for forming a toner image on said image bearing
member;
transfer means for transferring the toner image, formed on said
image bearing member, onto the recording medium;
fixing means for fixing the toner image, transferred onto the
recording medium by said transfer means, on the recording
medium;
recording medium receiving means for receiving the recording medium
on which the image is fixed by said fixing means: and
laser beam emitting means, arranged below said recording medium
receiving means for emitting a laser beam in accordance with image
information so as to cause said image forming means to form an
image,
wherein said laser beam emitting means is arranged below the
recording medium receiving means and emits a laser beam obliquely
upward at an angle of about 9 to 12.5 degrees with respect to a
horizontal direction.
3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said
recording medium receiving means is arranged on an upper surface of
an apparatus main body so as to be inclined obliquely upward in the
same direction as a direction in which the laser beam is
emitted.
4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a
recording medium on which an image is formed is discharged in the
same direction as a direction in which the laser beam emitted from
said laser beam emitting means propagates, and is received by said
recording medium receiving means.
5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is arranged such that a laser beam
emission hole is directed obliquely upward.
6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is a laser scanner unit incorporating a
laser diode for emitting a laser beam in accordance with the image
information, a polygon mirror, and an imaging lens.
7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
image forming means includes charging means for charging said image
bearing member, developing means for developing a latent image
formed on said image bearing member, and cleaning means for
removing a residual toner on said image bearing member.
8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
image forming means includes charging means for charging said image
bearing member, developing means for developing a latent image
formed on said image bearing member, and cleaning means for
removing a residual toner on said image bearing member, and said
image bearing member, said charging means, said developing means,
and said cleaning means being integrally formed into a process
cartridge which is designed to be detachable from an apparatus main
body.
9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is arranged within a height of said
process cartridge in a vertical direction.
10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is arranged between said process
cartridge and fixing means for fixing an image on the recording
medium so as not to overlap said process cartridge and said fixing
means in a vertical direction.
11. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further
comprising a feed cassette for storing the recording medium, said
feed cassette arranged below said process cartridge, said laser
beam emitting means, and said fixing means to extend
therealong.
12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a feed cassette for storing the recording medium,
wherein the recording medium is fed from said feed cassette and
reaches said image forming means after a path travelled by the
recording medium is reversed, and the recording medium reaches said
recording medium receiving means while the path travelled by the
recording medium is reversed again after an image forming
operation.
13. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a convey guide extending from said image bearing member
to said fixing means, wherein said laser beam emitting means is
arranged above said convey guide.
14. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising an electric circuit board arranged below said laser beam
emitting means.
15. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
image forming apparatus is a laser beam printer.
16. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic copying
machine.
17. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
image forming apparatus is a facsimile apparatus.
18. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a
recording medium on which an image is formed is discharged in the
same direction as a direction in which the laser beam emitted from
said laser beam emitting means propagates, and is received by said
recording medium receiving means.
19. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
recording medium receiving means is arranged on an upper surface of
an apparatus main body so as to be inclined obliquely upward in the
same direction as a direction in which the laser beam is
emitted.
20. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
transfer means includes a transfer roller.
21. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
fixing means includes a ceramic heater, a heat-resistant film, and
a pressure roller for pressing the recording medium against said
ceramic heater through said heat-resistant film.
22. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording
medium, comprising:
an image bearing member;
image forming means for forming a toner image on said image bearing
member;
transfer means for transferring the toner image formed on said
image bearing member, onto the recording medium;
fixing means for fixing the toner image, transferred onto the
recording medium by said transfer means, on the recording
medium;
recording medium receiving means for receiving the recording medium
on which the image is fixed by said fixing means; and
laser beam emitting means, arranged below said recording medium
receiving means, for emitting a laser beam in accordance with image
information so as to cause said image forming means to form an
image,
wherein said laser beam emitting means is arranged below the
recording medium receiving means and emits a laser beam obliquely
upward, and
wherein said recording medium receiving means receives a recording
medium discharged from an apparatus main body while a leading end
of the recording medium is laid substantially horizontally and a
trailing end of the recording medium is inclined.
23. An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said
recording medium receiving means is arranged on an upper surface of
an apparatus main body so as to be inclined obliquely upward in the
same direction as a direction in which the laser beam is
emitted.
24. An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein a
recording medium on which an image is formed is discharged in the
same direction as a direction in which the laser beam emitted from
said laser beam emitting means propagates, and is received by said
recording medium receiving means.
25. An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is arranged such that a laser beam
emission hole is directed obliquely upward.
26. An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is a laser scanner unit incorporating a
laser diode for emitting a laser beam in accordance with the image
information, a polygon mirror, and an imaging lens.
27. An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said
image forming means includes charging means for charging said image
bearing member, developing means for developing a latent image
formed on said image bearing member, and cleaning means for
removing a residual toner on said image bearing member.
28. An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said
image forming means includes charging means for charging said image
bearing member, developing means for developing a latent image
formed on said image bearing member, and cleaning means for
removing a residual toner on said image bearing member, and said
image bearing member, said charging means, said developing means,
and said cleaning means being integrally formed into a process
cartridge which is designed to be detachable from an apparatus main
body.
29. An image forming-apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is arranged within a height of said
process cartridge in a vertical direction.
30. An image forming apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is arranged between said process
cartridge and said fixing means so as not to overlap said process
cartridge and said fixing means in a vertical direction.
31. An image forming apparatus according to claim 28, further
comprising a feed cassette for storing the recording medium, said
feed cassette arranged below said process cartridge, said laser
beam emitting means, and said fixing means to extend
therealong.
32. An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, further
comprising a feed cassette for storing the recording medium,
wherein the recording medium is fed from said feed cassette and
reaches said image forming means after a path travelled by the
recording medium is reversed, and the recording medium reaches said
recording medium receiving means while the recording medium is
reversed again after an image forming operation.
33. An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, further
comprising a convey guide extending from said image bearing member
to said fixing means, wherein said laser beam emitting means is
arranged above said convey guide.
34. An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, further
comprising an electric circuit board arranged below said laser beam
emitting means.
35. An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said
image forming apparatus is a laser beam printer.
36. An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said
image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic copying
machine.
37. An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said
image forming apparatus is a facsimile apparatus.
38. An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein a
recording medium on which an image is formed is discharged in the
same direction as a direction in which the laser beam emitted from
said laser beam emitting means propagates, and is received by said
recording medium receiving means.
39. An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said
recording medium receiving means is arranged on an upper surface of
an apparatus main body so as to be inclined obliquely upward in the
same direction as a direction in which the laser beam is
emitted.
40. An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said
transfer means includes a transfer roller.
41. An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said
fixing means includes a ceramic heater, a heat-resistant film, and
a pressure roller for pressing the recording medium against said
ceramic heater through said heat-resistant film.
42. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording
medium, said apparatus comprising:
mounting means for removably mounting a process cartridge, said
process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive
member and process means acting on said electrophotographic
photosensitive member;
laser beam emitting means for emitting a laser beam on said
electrophotographic photosensitive member in said process cartridge
mounted onto said mounting means in accordance with image
information;
fixing means for fixing a toner image on the recording medium;
and
recording medium receiving means for receiving the recording medium
on which the image is fixed by said fixing means,
wherein said mounting means, said laser beam emitting means and
said fixing means are arranged in a horizontal direction and
arranged so as not to overlap each other in a vertical
directions,
wherein said laser beam emitting means is arranged below the
recording medium receiving means and emits a laser beam obliquely
upward, and
wherein said recording medium receiving means receives the
recording medium discharged from a main body of said image forming
apparatus while a leading end of the recording medium is laid
substantially horizontally and a trailing end of the recording
medium is inclined.
43. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, wherein a
feed cassette is mounted in a lowermost portion of said apparatus,
and said mounting means, said laser beam emitting means, and said
fixing means are located above said feed cassette.
44. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, wherein
mounting/dismounting of said process cartridge in/from an apparatus
main body is performed from a side on which said mounting means is
arranged.
45. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, wherein
mounting/dismounting of said process cartridge,
mounting/dismounting of a feed cassette, and removal of recording
media stacked on a stacking unit are performed from the same side
of an apparatus main body.
46. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said
process cartridge is formed by integrating said electrophotographic
photosensitive member as an image bearing member and charging means
for charging said photosensitive member, developing means for
developing a latent image formed on said photosensitive member, or
cleaning means for removing a residual toner on said photosensitive
member as said process means into a cartridge, said cartridge being
designed to be detachable from an image forming apparatus main
body.
47. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said
process cartridge is formed by integrating said electrophotographic
photosensitive member as an image bearing member and at least one
of charging means for charging said photosensitive member,
developing means for developing a latent image formed on said
photosensitive member, and cleaning means for removing a residual
toner on said photosensitive member as said process means into a
cartridge, said cartridge being designed to be detachable from an
image forming apparatus main body.
48. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said
process cartridge is formed by integrating at least developing
means for developing a latent image formed on said photosensitive
member and said electrophotographic photosensitive member into a
cartridge, said cartridge being designed to be detachable from an
image forming apparatus main body.
49. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is arranged such that a laser beam
emission hole is directed obliquely upward.
50. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is a laser scanner unit incorporating a
laser diode for emitting a laser beam in accordance with the image
information, a polygon mirror, and an imaging lens.
51. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is arranged within a height of said
process cartridge in a vertical direction.
52. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is arranged between said process
cartridge and fixing means for fixing an image on the recording
medium so as not to overlap said process cartridge and said fixing
means in a vertical direction.
53. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, further
comprising a feed cassette for storing the recording medium, said
feed cassette arranged below said process cartridge, said laser
beam emitting means, and said fixing means to extend
therealong.
54. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, further
comprising a feed cassette for storing the recording medium,
wherein the recording medium is fed from said feed cassette and
reaches said photosensitive member after a path travelled by the
recording medium is reversed, and the recording medium reaches said
recording medium receiving means while the path travelled by the
recording medium is reversed again after an image forming
operation.
55. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, further
comprising a convey guide extending from said photosensitive member
to said fixing means, wherein said laser beam emitting means is
arranged above said convey guide.
56. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, further
comprising an electric circuit board arranged below said laser beam
emitting means.
57. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said
image forming apparatus is a laser beam printer.
58. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said
image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic copying
machine.
59. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said
image forming apparatus is a facsimile apparatus.
60. An image forming apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said
process cartridge mounted in said mounting means, said laser beam
emitting means, and said fixing means are arranged so as not to
overlap each other in a vertical direction.
61. An image forming apparatus according to claim 42, further
comprising recording medium receiving means arranged on an upper
surface of an apparatus main body so as to be inclined obliquely
upward in the same direction as a direction in which the laser beam
is emitted.
62. An image forming apparatus according to claim 61, wherein said
recording medium receiving means receives a recording medium
discharged from an apparatus main body while a leading end of the
recording medium is laid horizontally and a trailing end of the
recording medium is inclined.
63. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording
medium, said apparatus comprising:
mounting means for removably mounting a process cartridge, said
process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive
member and process means acting on said electrophotographic
photosensitive member;
transfer means for transferring a toner image, formed on said
electrophotographic photosensitive member included in said process
cartridge, onto the recording medium;
fixing means for fixing the toner image, transferred onto the
recording medium by said transfer means, on the recording
medium;
laser beam emitting means, arranged between said process cartridge
mounted onto said mounting means and said fixing means to be
located within a height of said process cartridge mounted onto said
mounting means in a vertical direction, for emitting a laser beam
in accordance with image information;
a feed cassette for storing the recording medium;
recording medium receiving means for receiving a recording medium
on which an image has been formed; and
convey means for guiding a recording medium fed from said feed
cassette to a position between said electrophotographic
photosensitive member and said transfer means by reversing a path
travelled by the recording medium, and guiding the recording
medium, on which a toner image has been transferred from said
electrophotographic photosensitive member and which has passed
through said fixing means, to said recording medium receiving means
by reversing the path travelled by the recording medium again,
wherein
said recording medium receiving means receives a recording medium
discharged from an apparatus main body while a leading end of the
recording medium is laid substantially horizontally and a trailing
end of the recording medium is inclined.
64. An image forming apparatus according to claim 63, further
comprising recording medium receiving means arranged on an upper
surface of an apparatus main body so as to be inclined obliquely
upward in the same direction as a direction in which said laser
beam emitting means emits the laser beam.
65. An image forming apparatus according to claim 64, wherein a
recording medium on which an image is formed is discharged in the
same direction as a direction in which the laser beam emitted from
said laser beam emitting means propagates, and is received by said
recording medium receiving means.
66. An image forming apparatus according to claim 64, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is arranged such that a laser beam
emission hole is directed obliquely upward.
67. An image forming apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is a laser scanner unit incorporating a
laser diode for emitting a laser beam in accordance with the image
information, a polygon mirror, and an imaging lens.
68. An image forming apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is arranged within a height of said
process cartridge in a vertical direction.
69. An image forming apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is arranged between said process
cartridge and fixing means for fixing an image on the recording
medium so as not to overlap said process cartridge and said fixing
means in a vertical direction.
70. An image forming apparatus according to claim 63, further
comprising a feed cassette for storing the recording medium, said
feed cassette arranged below said process cartridge, said laser
beam emitting means, and said fixing means to extend
therealong.
71. An image forming apparatus according to claim 64, further
comprising a feed cassette for storing the recording medium,
wherein the recording medium is fed from said feed cassette and
reaches said image forming means after a path travelled by the
recording medium is reversed, and the recording medium reaches said
recording medium receiving means while the recording medium is
reversed again after an image forming operation.
72. An image forming apparatus according to claim 63, further
comprising a convey guide extending from said photosensitive member
to said fixing means, wherein said laser beam emitting means is
arranged above said convey guide.
73. An image forming apparatus according to claim 63, further
comprising an electric circuit board arranged below said laser beam
emitting means.
74. An image forming apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said
image forming apparatus is a laser beam printer.
75. An image forming apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said
image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic copying
machine.
76. An image forming apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said
image forming apparatus is a facsimile apparatus.
77. An image forming apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said
process cartridge mounted in said mounting means, said laser beam
emitting means, and said fixing means are arranged so as not to
overlap each other in a vertical direction.
78. An image forming apparatus according to claim 64, wherein a
recording medium on which an image is formed is discharged in the
same direction as a direction in which the laser beam emitted from
said laser beam emitting means propagates, and is received by said
recording medium receiving means.
79. An image forming apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said
transfer means includes a transfer roller.
80. An image forming apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said
fixing means includes a ceramic heater, a heat-resistant film, and
a pressure roller for pressing the recording medium against said
ceramic heater through said heat-resistant film.
81. An image forming apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said
process cartridge is formed by integrating said electrophotographic
photosensitive member as an image bearing member and charging means
for charging said photosensitive member, developing means for
developing a latent image formed on said photosensitive member, or
cleaning means for removing a residual toner on said photosensitive
member as said process means into a cartridge, said cartridge being
designed to be detachable from an image forming apparatus main
body.
82. An image forming apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said
process cartridge is formed by integrating an electrophotographic
photosensitive member as said image bearing member and at least one
of charging means for charging said photosensitive member,
developing means for developing a latent image formed on said
photosensitive member, and cleaning means for removing a residual
toner on said photosensitive member as said process means into a
cartridge, said cartridge being designed to be detachable from an
image forming apparatus main body.
83. An image forming apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said
process cartridge is formed by integrating at least developing
means for developing a latent image formed on said photosensitive
member and said electrophotographic photosensitive member into a
cartridge, said cartridge being designed to be detachable from an
image forming apparatus main body.
84. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording
medium, said apparatus comprising:
mounting means for removably mounting a process cartridge, said
process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive
member and process means acting on said electrophotographic
photosensitive member;
transfer means for transferring a toner image, formed on said
electrophotographic photosensitive member included in said process
cartridge, onto the recording medium;
fixing means for fixing the toner image, transferred onto the
recording medium by said transfer means, on the recording
medium;
laser beam emitting means, arranged between said process cartridge
mounted onto said mounting means and said fixing means to be
located within a height of said process cartridge mounted onto said
mounting means in a vertical direction, for emitting a laser beam
in accordance with image information;
a feed cassette for storing the recording medium;
recording medium receiving means for receiving a recording medium
on which an image has been formed; and
convey means for guiding a recording medium fed from said feed
cassette to a position between said electrophotographic
photosensitive member and said transfer means by reversing a path
travelled by the recording medium, and guiding the recording
medium, on which a toner image has been transferred from said
electrophotographic photosensitive member and which has passed
through said fixing means, to the recording medium receiving means
by reversing the path travelled by the recording medium again,
wherein
said mounting means, said laser beam emitting means, and said
fixing means are arranged so as to not overlap each other in a
vertical direction.
85. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, further
comprising recording medium receiving means arranged on an upper
surface of an apparatus main body so as to be inclined obliquely
upward in the same direction as a direction in which said laser
beam emitting means emits the laser beam.
86. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, wherein a
recording medium on which an image is formed is discharged in the
same direction as a direction in which the laser beam emitted from
said laser beam emitting means propagates, and is received by said
recording medium receiving means.
87. An image forming apparatus according to claim 85, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is arranged such that a laser beam
emission hole is directed obliquely upward.
88. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is a laser scanner unit incorporating a
laser diode for emitting a laser beam in accordance with the image
information, a polygon mirror, and an imaging lens.
89. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is arranged within a height of said
process cartridge in a vertical direction.
90. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, wherein said
laser beam emitting means is arranged between said process
cartridge and fixing means for fixing an image on the recording
medium so as not to overlap said process cartridge and said fixing
means in a vertical direction.
91. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, further
comprising a feed cassette for storing the recording medium, said
feed cassette arranged below said process cartridge, said laser
beam emitting means, and said fixing means to extend
therealong.
92. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, further
comprising a feed cassette for storing the recording medium,
wherein the recording medium is fed from said feed cassette and
reaches said image forming means after a path travelled by the
recording medium is reversed, and the recording medium reaches said
recording medium receiving means while the recording medium is
reversed again after an image forming operation.
93. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, further
comprising a convey guide extending from said photosensitive member
to said fixing means, wherein said laser beam emitting means is
arranged above said convey guide.
94. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, further
comprising an electric circuit board arranged below said laser beam
emitting means.
95. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, wherein said
image forming apparatus is a laser beam printer.
96. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, wherein said
image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic copying
machine.
97. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, wherein said
image forming apparatus is a facsimile apparatus.
98. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, wherein said
process cartridge mounted in said mounting means, said laser beam
emitting means, and said fixing means are arranged so as not to
overlap each other in a vertical direction.
99. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, wherein a
recording medium on which an image is formed is discharged in the
same direction as a direction in which the laser beam emitted from
said laser beam emitting means propagates, and is received by said
recording medium receiving means.
100. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, wherein said
transfer means includes a transfer roller.
101. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, wherein said
fixing means includes a ceramic heater, a heat-resistant film, and
a pressure roller for pressing the recording medium against said
ceramic heater through said heat-resistant film.
102. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, wherein said
process cartridge is formed by integrating said electrophotographic
photosensitive member as an image bearing member and charging means
for charging said photosensitive member, developing means for
developing a latent image formed on said photosensitive member, or
cleaning means for removing a residual toner on said photosensitive
member as said process means into a cartridge, said cartridge being
designed to be detachable from an image forming apparatus main
body.
103. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, wherein said
process cartridge is formed by integrating said electrophotographic
photosensitive member as an image bearing member and at least one
of charging means for charging said photosensitive member,
developing means for developing a latent image formed on said
photosensitive member, and cleaning means for removing a residual
toner on said photosensitive member as said process means into a
cartridge, said cartridge being designed to be detachable from an
image forming apparatus main body.
104. An image forming apparatus according to claim 84, wherein said
process cartridge is formed by integrating at least developing
means for developing a latent image formed on said photosensitive
member and said electrophotographic photosensitive member into a
cartridge, said cartridge being designed to be detachable from an
image forming apparatus main body.
105. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording
medium, said apparatus comprising:
a mounting mechanism for removably mounting a process cartridge,
said process cartridge including an electrophotographic
photosensitive member and process means acting on said
electrophotographic photosensitive member;
a transfer device for transferring a toner image, formed on said
electrophotographic photosensitive member, onto the recording
medium;
a fixing device for fixing the toner image, transferred onto the
recording medium by said transfer device, on the recording
medium;
a laser beam emitter, arranged between said process cartridge
mounted onto said mounting mechanism and said fixing device to be
located within a height of said process cartridge mounted onto said
mounting mechanism in a vertical direction, for emitting a laser
beam in accordance with image information;
a feed cassette for storing the recording medium;
a recording medium receiver for receiving a recording medium on
which an image has been formed; and
a conveying mechanism for guiding a recording medium fed from said
feed cassette to a position between said electrophotographic
photosensitive member and said transfer device by reversing a path
travelled by the recording medium, and guiding the recording
medium, on which a toner image has been transferred from said
electrophotographic photosensitive member and which has passed
through said fixing device, to the recording medium receiver by
reversing the path of the recording medium again, wherein
said recording medium receiver receives a recording medium
discharged from an apparatus main body while a leading end of the
recording medium is laid substantially horizontally and a trailing
end of the recording medium is inclined, and wherein
said mounting mechanism, said laser beam emitter, and said fixing
device are arranged so as to not overlap each other in a vertical
direction.
106. An image forming apparatus according to claim 105, further
comprising a recording medium receiver arranged on an upper surface
of an apparatus main body so as to be inclined obliquely upward in
the same direction as a direction in which said laser beam emitter
emits the laser beam.
107. An image forming apparatus according to claim 105, wherein a
recording medium on which an image is formed is discharged in the
same direction as a direction in which the laser beam emitted from
said laser beam emitter propagates, and is received by said
recording medium receiver.
108. An image forming apparatus according to claim 105, wherein
said laser beam emitter is arranged such that a laser beam emission
hole is directed obliquely upward.
109. An image forming apparatus according to claim 105, wherein
said laser beam emitter includes a laser scanner unit incorporating
a laser diode for emitting a laser beam in accordance with the
image information, a polygon mirror, and an imaging lens.
110. An image forming apparatus according to claim 105, wherein
said laser beam emitter is arranged within a height of said process
cartridge in a vertical direction.
111. An image forming apparatus according to claim 105, wherein
said laser beam emitter is arranged between said process cartridge
and said fixing device for fixing an image on the recording medium
so as not to overlap said process cartridge and said fixing device
in a vertical direction.
112. An image forming apparatus according to claim 105, further
comprising a feed cassette for storing the recording medium, said
feed cassette arranged below said process cartridge, said laser
beam emitter, and said fixing device to extend therealong.
113. An image forming apparatus according to claim 105, further
comprising a feed cassette for storing the recording medium,
wherein the recording medium is fed from said feed cassette and
reaches said photosensitive member after a path travelled by the
recording medium is reversed, and the recording medium reaches said
recording medium receiving means while the recording medium is
reversed again after an image forming operation.
114. An image forming apparatus according to claim 105, further
comprising a convey guide extending from said photosensitive member
to said fixing device, wherein said laser beam emitter is arranged
above said convey guide.
115. An image forming apparatus according to claim 105, further
comprising an electric circuit board arranged below said laser beam
emitter.
116. An image forming apparatus according to claim 105, wherein
said image forming apparatus is a laser beam printer.
117. An image forming apparatus according to claim 105, wherein
said image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic copying
machine.
118. An image forming apparatus according to claim 105, wherein
said image forming apparatus is a facsimile apparatus.
119. An image forming apparatus according to claim 105, wherein
said process cartridge mounted in said mounting mechanism, said
laser beam emitter, and said fixing device are arranged so as not
to overlap each other in a vertical direction.
120. An image forming apparatus according to claim 105, wherein a
recording medium on which an image is formed is discharged in the
same direction as a direction in which the laser beam emitted from
said laser beam emitter propagates, and is received by said
recording medium receiver.
121. An image forming apparatus according to claim 105, wherein
said transfer means includes a transfer roller.
122. An image forming apparatus according to claim 105, wherein
said fixing device includes a ceramic heater, a heat-resistant
film, and a pressure roller for pressing the recording medium
against said ceramic heater through said heat-resistant film.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for
recording an image on a recording medium.
fin this case, as image forming apparatuses, an electrophotographic
copying machine, a laser beam printer (LBP), an LED printer, a
facsimile apparatus, a wordprocessor, and the like are
included.
BACKGROUND ART
The background art of the present invention will be described
below.
In recent years, a demand has arisen for a smaller image forming
apparatus with improved operability. In order to satisfy such a
demand on the market, the applicant of the present invention has
previously made effective inventions, and disclosed them in
Japanese Patent Application No. 60-123060 (Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open No. 61-279871; corresponding U.S. Pat. No.
4,873,548) and Japanese Patent Application No. 63-047637 (Japanese
Patent Application Laid-Open No. 01-222269; corresponding U.S. Pat.
No. 5,047,803).
The present invention has been made by improving the previous
inventions. According to the present invention, there is provided
an image forming apparatus which realizes a further reduction in
size and an improvement in operability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image
forming apparatus which realizes a further reduction in size.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an image
forming apparatus which can be installed in a small installation
space.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an
image forming apparatus which realizes an improvement in
operability.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an
image forming apparatus in which a sufficiently large number of
recording media on which images have been formed can be stacked in
spite of a reduction in size.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an
image forming apparatus which realizes a low-profile structure by
reducing the height of the apparatus.
According to one main aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an image forming apparatus for performing a recording
operation with respect to a recording medium, comprising image
forming means for forming an image on a recording medium, recording
medium receiving means for receiving the recording medium on which
the image is formed by the image forming means, and laser beam
emitting means, arranged below the recording medium receiving
means, for emitting a laser beam in accordance with image
information so as to cause the image forming means to form an
image. Wherein the laser beam emitting means arranged below the
recording medium receiving means emits a laser beam obliquely
upward.
According to another main aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an image forming apparatus which allows a process
cartridge to be mounted therein and forms an image on a recording
medium, comprising mounting means for allowing the process
cartridge to be mounted therein, the process cartridge having an
image bearing member and process means acting on the image bearing
member, fixing means for fixing the image on the recording medium,
and laser beam emitting means, arranged between the process
cartridge mounted in the mounting means and the fixing means, for
emitting a laser beam in accordance with image information.
According to still another main aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an image forming apparatus which allows a process
cartridge to be mounted therein and forms an image on a recording
medium, comprising mounting means for allowing the process
cartridge to be mounted therein, the process cartridge having an
image bearing member and process means acting on the image bearing
member, transfer means for transferring a toner image, formed on
the image bearing member included in the process cartridge mounted
in the mounting means, onto the recording medium, fixing means for
fixing the image, transferred onto the recording medium by the
transfer means, on the recording medium, laser beam emitting means,
arranged between the process cartridge mounted in the mounting
means and the fixing means to be located within a height of the
process cartridge mounted in the mounting means in a vertical
direction, for emitting a laser beam in accordance with image
information, a feed cassette, arranged below the apparatus, for
storing the recording medium, recording medium receiving means for
receiving a recording medium on which an image has been formed, and
convey means for guiding a recording medium fed from the feed
cassette to a position between the image bearing member and the
transfer means upon reversing the recording medium, and guiding the
recording medium, on which a toner image has been transferred from
the image bearing member and which has passed through the fixing
means, to the recording medium receiving means upon reversing the
recording medium again.
According to still another main aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an image forming apparatus which allows a process
cartridge to be mounted therein and forms an image on a recording
medium, comprising mounting means for allowing the process
cartridge to be mounted therein, the process cartridge having an
image bearing member and process means acting on the image bearing
member, laser beam emitting means for emitting a laser beam on the
image bearing member included in the process cartridge mounted in
the mounting means in accordance with image information, and fixing
means for fixing an image on the recording medium. Wherein the
respective means are arranged in the order named in a horizontal
direction. According to still another main aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus which
allows a process cartridge to be mounted therein and forms an image
on a recording medium, comprising mounting means capable of
mounting a process cartridge between a mounting unit for a feed
cassette and a stacking unit for a recording medium, which has
undergone recording processing, in a vertical direction, the
process cartridge having an image bearing member and process means
acting on the image bearing member, fixing means for fixing an
image on the recording medium, and convey means for reversing a
recording medium fed from the feed cassette, and conveying the
recording medium to cause the recording medium to be stacked on the
stacking unit after a toner image is transferred from the image
bearing member included in the process cartridge onto the recording
medium, the toner image is fixed on the recording medium by the
fixing means, and the recording medium is reversed.
With the above-described characteristic arrangement, the present
invention realizes a further reduction in size of an image forming
apparatus.
In addition, according to the present invention, with the
above-described characteristic arrangement, a further improvement
in operability is realized.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a laser beam printer to which an
embodiment of the present invention is applied;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the
laser beam printer in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the interior of the laser beam
printer in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a portion near a composite electric
circuit board;
FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a portion of an
opening/closing cover;
FIG. 6 is a side view showing an ordinary state wherein a process
cartridge is mounted;
FIG. 7 is a schematic functional block diagram;
FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of a laser beam printer to which
another embodiment of the present invention is applied;
FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of a portion near an electric
equipment unit; and
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a method of mounting an AC
inlet.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present invention will be described below with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a laser beam printer as an image
forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
The overall arrangement of the laser beam printer having a process
cartridge mounted therein will be described first.
In this printer apparatus A, an optical image based on image
information is radiated from an optical system 1 to form a toner
image on a photosensitive drum as an image bearing member, as shown
in FIG. 1. A recording medium 2 is conveyed upward by a feed roller
3b as a convey system in synchronism with the formation of the
toner image. In an image forming unit as a process cartridge B, the
toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred onto
the recording medium 2 by a transfer means 4. Thereafter, the
recording medium 2 is conveyed to a fixing means 5 to fix the toner
image on the recording medium 2. The recording medium 2 is then
discharged onto an upper stacking unit 6. In this case, as shown in
FIG. 1, a recording medium 2a discharged from the apparatus main
body is stacked on the upper stacking unit 6 such that a leading
end portion of the medium is laid horizontally while its trailing
end portion is inclined.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the process cartridge B constituting the
image forming unit, the photosensitive drum 7 is rotated to
uniformly charge its surface by using a charging roller 8 as a
charging means, and an optical image from the optical system 1 is
radiated on the photosensitive drum 7 through an exposure opening 9
formed in a cartridge frame 12, thus forming a latent image.
Thereafter, a toner image corresponding to the latent image is
formed by a developing sleeve 10 of a developing means to visualize
the latent image. After the toner image is transferred on the
recording medium 2 by the transfer means 4, the residual toner on
the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is removed by a cleaning
plate 11 of a cleaning means. Note that the respective components
such as the photosensitive drum 7 are stored, as cartridges, in the
cartridge frame 12 constituting the housing.
The arrangements of the respective components of the printer
apparatus A and the process cartridge B will be described next.
Image Forming Apparatus
The arrangements of the respective components of the printer
apparatus A will be described. More specifically, the optical
system, a convey system, the transfer means, the fixing means, an
electric equipment unit, an electric equipment unit cover which
also serves as a guide, a cartridge mounting means, and the overall
arrangement of the apparatus will be described below in the order
named.
Optical System
The optical system will be described below with reference to FIGS.
1 to 3. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the interior of the
apparatus main body.
The optical system 1 radiates an optical image on the
photosensitive drum 7 by radiating light on the basis of image
information read from an external unit or the like. As shown in
FIG. 1, a laser scanner unit 1a of the apparatus main body A houses
a laser diode 1b, a polygon mirror 1c, a scanner motor 1d, and an
imaging lens 1e. Note that the laser scanner unit 1a is arranged
within the height of the process cartridge B mounted in the
apparatus main body.
Upon reception of an image signal from an external unit (host
unit), e.g., a computer or a wordprocessor, the laser diode 1b
emits light in accordance with the image signal, and radiates the
light, as image light, on the polygon mirror 1c. The polygon mirror
1c is rotated at high speed by the scanner motor 1d. The image
light reflected by the polygon mirror 1c is radiated on the
rotating photosensitive drum 7 through the imaging lens 1e and a
reflecting mirror 1f. As a result, the surface of the drum 7 is
selectively exposed, and a latent image corresponding to the image
information is formed thereon. In this case, the reflecting mirror
1f is fixed to the apparatus main body at a predetermined angle
with a screw 1f1.
Reference numeral 1g denotes a unit opening through which light
passing through the imaging lens 1e emerges from the unit toward
the reflecting mirror 1f. In this case, the unit opening 1g is
formed such that light emerging therefrom obliquely propagates
upward. Reference numeral 1h denotes a laser shutter capable of
opening/closing the unit opening 1g. The laser shutter 1h
opens/closes the opening 1g upon interlocking with a
mounting/dismounting operation of the process cartridge to be
described later so as to prevent a laser beam L from
unintentionally emerging outside the unit while the process
cartridge is not mounted (the shutter 1h indicated by the solid
line is in an open state, and the shutter 1h indicated by the
broken line is in a closed state). A detailed description of the
opening/closing mechanism of the shutter 1h will be omitted.
In this embodiment, the laser scanner unit 1a is mounted on a
support plate 1j to be inclined upward so that the laser beam L can
be emitted upward obliquely. More specifically, the laser scanner
unit 1a is inclined upward in the same direction as an upwardly
inclined stacking surface 6a of the stacking unit 6 arranged on the
upper surface of the apparatus main body A. The laser scanner unit
1a substantially extends along the stacking surface 6a. Even if,
therefore, the height of the apparatus main body A is minimized,
since the inclination angle of the stacking surface 6a of the upper
stacking unit 6 can be increased, a sufficient number of recording
media can be stacked.
The inclination angle (.theta.1) of the stacking surface 6a with
respect to the horizontal direction is preferably set to be about
15.degree. to 45.degree., and more preferably about 20.degree. to
40.degree., in consideration of the discharging performance. In the
embodiment, the inclination angle was set to be about 20.degree..
In addition, the inclination angle (.theta.2) of the laser scanner
unit 1a with respect to the horizontal direction was set to be
about 9.degree. to 12.5.degree.. Therefore, the emission angle
(.theta.3) of the laser beam L with respect to the horizontal
direction is about 9.degree. to 12.5.degree.. With this
arrangement, about 50 to 100 recording sheets can be stacked on the
upper stacking unit 6.
In the embodiment, the outer size of the laser beam printer for
recording an image on a recording medium of a A4 size (210
mm.times.297 mm) could be reduced to the following ranges:
1 height: about 130 mm to 145 mm
2 depth: about 350 mm to 370 mm
3 width: about 350 mm to 360 mm
Recording Medium Convey System
The arrangement of a convey system 3 for conveying the recording
medium 2 (e.g., a recording sheet, an OHP sheet (plastic sheet), a
cloth, or a thin plate) will be described next. As shown in FIGS. 1
and 2, the convey system 3 of the embodiment has a mounting portion
3h of a cassette 3a on the bottom portion of the apparatus main
body A. In this case, the cassette 3a is arranged on almost the
entire bottom surface of the apparatus main body A. The cassette 3a
can be inserted/withdrawn in/from the mounting portion 3h in the
direction indicated by an arrow Z from a front surface F side. Note
that positioning of the cassette 3a with respect to the mounting
portion 3h is performed by bringing a cassette-side abutment
portion 3a1 into contact with a main-body-side abutment portion
3h1. The recording media 2 stored in the cassette 3a are fed
therefrom one by one, starting from the uppermost recording medium,
by a pickup roller 3b. A reverse roller is then rotated, in
accordance with an image forming operation, to convey the recording
medium 2 to a transfer region Y of the image forming unit. After
the image forming operation, the recording medium 2 is further
conveyed to the fixing means 5. The recording medium 2 is then
discharged onto the upper stacking unit 6 by a discharging roller
pair 3j. In this case, a roller 3e is rotated upon rotation of a
reverse roller 3c. Note that reference numeral 3a2 denotes a
cassette grip.
The above arrangement will be described in more detail below.
In response to a print start signal, a driving force is transmitted
to a one-direction control clutch (not shown) to rotate the pickup
roller 3b once. As a result, one of the recording media 2 in the
cassette 3a is fed in the forward direction of the cassette 3a (the
forward direction of the apparatus main body A). The fed recording
medium 2 is conveyed to a rear position in the apparatus main body
A through a first reverse sheet path 3f constituted by the reverse
roller 3c, a guide 3d, the roller 3e, and the like, while the
recording medium 2 is reversed through 180.degree.. The recording
medium 2 is guided to a tight contact nip portion Y (transfer
region) between the photosensitive drum 7 and the transfer means 4,
and the toner image formed on the surface of the drum 7 is
transferred onto the recording medium 2. The recording medium 2 on
which the toner image is transferred is guided by a cover 41 (to be
described later) to reach the fixing means 5. When passing through
the fixing means 5, the toner image is fixed on the recording
medium 2 by heat and pressure. Upon passing through the fixing
means 5, the recording medium 2 reaches a curved second reverse
sheet path 3i through a relay convey roller pair 3g. When passing
through the second reverse sheet path 3i, the recording medium 2 is
reversed through 180.degree. again and is discharged onto the upper
stacking unit 6 by the discharging roller pair 3j.
In the printer apparatus of the embodiment, the recording medium 2
fed once from the cassette 3a, arranged on the bottom portion of
the apparatus, toward the front portion of the apparatus is
reversed when passing through the first reverse sheet path 3f, and
is moved toward the rear portion of the apparatus. In the process
of moving toward the rear portion of the apparatus, the recording
medium 2 undergoes toner image transfer processing in the transfer
region Y. Thereafter, the toner image is fixed on the recording
medium 2 by the fixing means 5. After the fixing operation, the
recording medium 2 is reversed again through the second reverse
sheet path 3i and is moved toward the front portion of the
apparatus. The recording medium 2 is then discharged onto the upper
stacking unit 6 on the upper portion of the apparatus. That is, in
the embodiment, the convey path for recording media has a letter of
"S" shape.
According to the embodiment, therefore, the space for installing
the apparatus can be further reduced. Moreover, the recording media
2 which have undergone image recording processing are sequentially
stacked on the upper stacking unit 6 with the image-formed surfaces
facing down.
Note that the cassette 3a can be manually withdrawn/inserted
from/in the mounting portion 6 (in the direction indicated by the
arrow Z in FIG. 1) by the operator at the front side of the
apparatus, and replenishment of the recording media 2 is performed
while the cassette 3a is withdrawn from the mounting portion 6. The
cassette 3a will be described here. Reference numeral 3a1 denotes a
stacked matter which can be pivoted about a shaft 3a2; 3a3, a
push-up spring for pushing a stacking plate 2 upward; 3a4, a
separation pawl for separating the recording media 2 one by one
when they are fed; and 3a5, a guide for guiding the leading end of
the fed recording medium 2 to the position between the reverse
roller 3c and the roller 3e. The stacking plate 3a1, the push-up
spring 3a3, the separation pawl, the guide 3a5, and the like are
disposed in a cassette box 3a5, and hence can be withdrawn together
as the cassette 3a.
Sensors S1, S2, and S3 arranged in the convey path for the
recording medium 2 will be described below.
The sensor S1 is a registration sensor, which detects the leading
end of the recording medium 2 fed from the cassette 3a to the
transfer region Y to regulate the laser write timing of the laser
scanner unit 1a, and also detects the presence/absence of a
residual recording medium at the start time of the apparatus main
body.
The sensor S2 is a discharge sensor (a detecting member on the rear
side of the fixing unit), which detects the arrival of the leading
end and the departure (passage) of the trailing end of the
recording medium 2 which has passed through the fixing means 5, and
also detects the presence/absence of a residual recording medium at
the start time of the apparatus.
The sensor S3 is a sensor (a detecting member on the front side of
the fixing unit) arranged in the sheet path extending from the
transfer region Y to the fixing means 5 to detect the
presence/absence of a recording medium.
With this arrangement, when a jam occurs in the apparatus, a
control unit 200 detects the jam in accordance with the feed timing
and the relationship between signals from the sensors S1 and S2,
thus bringing the apparatus main body to an emergency stop. In
addition, the occurrence of the jam is displayed.
Assume that the recording medium 2 is jammed in the fixing unit 5.
In this case, the arrival of the leading end of the recording
medium is not detected by the discharge sensor S2 in spite of the
fact that the time required for the leading end of the recording
medium to arrive at the discharge sensor S2 as the detecting member
on the rear side of the fixing unit has elapsed since time counting
is started from the feed timing. Therefore, the control unit 200
determines that the recording medium is jammed in the fixing unit 5
in a wound state, and brings the apparatus to an emergency stop.
Note that the jammed recording medium is removed upon opening the
rear portion of the apparatus main body A (indicated by a broken
line Q in FIG. 1).
Transfer Means
The transfer means 4 transfers a toner image, formed on the
photosensitive drum 7 in the image forming unit, onto the recording
medium 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer means 4 of the
embodiment is constituted by a transfer roller 4. More
specifically, the recording medium 2 is pressed against the
photosensitive drum 7 of the process cartridge B by the transfer
roller 4, and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the
toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is applied to the
transfer roller 4, thus transferring the toner image, formed on the
photosensitive drum 7, onto the recording medium 2. Reference
numeral 4a denotes a spring for pressing the transfer roller 4
against the photosensitive drum 7.
Fixing Means
The fixing means 5 fixes the toner image, transferred onto the
recording medium 2 by applying the voltage to the transfer roller
4, on the recording medium 2. FIG. 1 shows the arrangement of the
fixing means 5. More specifically, reference numeral 5a denotes a
heat-resistant film guide member having a substantially
semicircular trough-like cross-section; 5b, a flat ceramic heater
(heating member) disposed on the middle portion of the lower
surface of the film guide member 5b to extend along its
longitudinal direction; 5c, a cylindrical (endless) thin film
(fixing film) consisting of a heat-resistant resin, which is
loosely fitted on the film guide portion 5a having the ceramic
heater; and 5d, a pressure roller which is arranged below the film
guide portion 5a and is always biased upward by a push-up spring
(not shown) to be pressed against the ceramic heater 5b through the
film 5c. That is, the ceramic heater 5b and the pressure roller 5d
are pressed against each other through the film 5c to constitute a
fixing nip portion 5e.
The ceramic heater 5b is energized by an energization system to
generate heat, and is controlled by a temperature control system of
the control unit 200 (FIG. 7) (to be described later) to a
predetermined fixing temperature.
The pressure roller 5d is rotated at a predetermined peripheral
speed in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow.
Owing to a frictional force generated upon rotation of the pressure
roller 5d, the cylindrical film 5c is rotated around the outer
surface of the film guide portion 5a at a predetermined peripheral
speed in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow while the
film 5c is in tight contact with the lower surface of the ceramic
heater 5b at the fixing nip portion 5e and is slidably moved along
the heater surface.
The recording medium 2 which has undergone image transfer
processing and is conveyed to the fixing unit 5 is guided to an
inlet guide 5f and is inserted between the cylindrical film 5c and
the pressure roller 5d which are being rotated at the fixing nip
portion 5e between the temperature-controlled ceramic heater 5b and
the pressure roller 5d. The recording medium 2 then comes into
tight contact with the lower surface of the ceramic heater 5b
through the film 5c and passes through the fixing nip portion 5e
together with the film 5c in an overlapped state.
In the process of passing through the fixing nip portion 5e, the
non-fixed toner image on the recording medium 2 is heated upon
receiving the heat from the ceramic heater 5b through the film
filter 5c, thus fixing the image on the recording medium 2.
The recording medium 2 which has passed through the fixing nip
portion 5e is separated from the surface of the film 5c which is
being rotated, and is guided to the convey roller pair 3g by an
outlet guide 5g.
Electric Equipment Unit
The electric equipment unit will be described below with reference
to FIGS. 1, 4, and 7. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a portion near an
electric circuit board 16, in which an insulating sheet 38 is
indicated by the solid line, and upper and lower covers 40 and 41
are indicated by alternate long and two short dashed lines.
In the embodiment, all electric parts such as an AC input unit, a
DC power supply unit, a high-voltage power supply unit, a control
circuit unit, switches, sensors, and connectors are mounted on one
printed board. More specifically, the following electric parts are
mounted on one printed board, i.e., the electric circuit board 16,
at a high density: an AC input unit 401 for receiving AC power from
an external commercial power supply 400 and removing noise; a DC
power supply unit 402 for converting the AC power into DC power of
5 or 24 V; a high-voltage power supply unit 403 for supplying power
to the process cartridge B (the developing means 10 and the
charging roller 8) and the transfer roller 4; and the controller
unit 200 such as a CPU for controlling the overall operation of the
image forming apparatus. Reference numeral 17 denotes an image
processing circuit board for performing image processing for a
character, a symbol, or the like in accordance with a print signal
from a host computer. The image processing circuit board 17 is
arranged to be perpendicular to the electric circuit board 16.
A method of electrically connecting the electric circuit board 16
to other main units will be described next.
A feed unit 3k is connected to the electric circuit board 16 such
that contact electrodes 23a and 23b, each consisting of a material
such as phosphor bronze or SUS are brought into contact with
electrode portions 23c and 23d on the electric circuit board 16.
Upon electrical connection between the feed unit 3k and the
electric circuit board 16, ON/OFF control of a solenoid 3m arranged
on the feed unit 3k is performed. The solenoid 3m is
ON/OFF-controlled to drive/stop the pickup roller 3b.
Both the process cartridge B and the transfer roller 4 are
electrically connected to the electric circuit board through
contact springs 18a, 18b, and 24, each consisting of a material
such as SUS and protruding upward from a portion, of the electric
circuit board 16, which is located outside a width L (FIG. 4) of
the maximum recording medium. With this electrical connection, the
process cartridge B and the transfer roller 4 receive power or
grounded. As shown in FIG. 4, since the contact springs 18a, 18b,
and 24 are disposed outside the width of a recording medium of the
maximum size, they do not interfere with the conveyance of
recording media. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, since the laser
scanner unit 1a is disposed across the convey path for recording
media, the effective use of the space can be realized. The spring
18a serves to apply a developing bias to the developing means 10.
The spring 24 serves to ground the photosensitive drum 7. The
spring 18b serves to apply a voltage to the charging roller 8 to
perform a primary charging operation.
A driving motor 15 is electrically connected to the electric
circuit board 16 such that a connector 15b on a motor board 15a
disposed on a side surface of the driving motor 15 and a connector
19 on the electric circuit board 16 are fitted to each other.
The image processing circuit board 17 is electrically connected to
the electric circuit board 16 at a side of the circuit board 16
such that a connector 22 fixed to the circuit board 17 is connected
to a connector 22a fixed to the circuit board 16. The image
processing circuit board 17 communicates with the control unit 200
(CPU 201) in the electric circuit board 16.
In addition, the fixing unit 5 is connected to the electric circuit
board 16 below the convey path for recording media such that an AC
connector 21a and a DC connector 21b, both fixed to the fixing unit
5, are connected to an AC connector 21c and a DC connector 21d,
both fixed to the electric circuit board 16. With this electrical
connection, the fixing unit 5 receives power and is controlled.
As described above, the main units in the image forming apparatus
can be directly and easily connected to the electric circuit board
16 without using relays such as harnesses. With this arrangement,
the number of components can be reduced by omitting harnesses and
the like, and the operability in assembly and maintenance can also
be improved. Furthermore, since a connection error and the like can
be prevented, the reliability of the image forming apparatus can be
improved.
As shown in FIG. 4, the laser scanner unit 1a is also connected to
the electric equipment unit 16 at a position outside the width of
the convey path for recording media such that a connector 5b on the
relay board 1k side and a connector 26 on an electric equipment
board 16a are connected to each other. As described above,
according to the embodiment, all the units, in the image forming
apparatus, which require electrical control can be connected to the
electric circuit board 16. That is, the electrical control
functions required for the image forming apparatus can be
concentrated on the electric circuit board 16. Therefore, by
intensively managing the quality of the electric circuit board 16,
the quality of the image forming apparatus can be guaranteed.
Of all the electric parts mounted on the electric circuit board 16,
FIG. 1 shows an AC inlet 30, the CPU 201, a quartz member 31,
various resistors 32, various capacitors 33, the photointerrupter
of the sensor 82, and a photointerrupter 35 of the sensor S3.
Electric Circuit Board Cover Serving as Guide
The electric circuit board cover and its function as a convey guide
for recording media will be described below with reference to FIG.
1.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the embodiment, the composite electric
circuit board 16 is located above the feed cassette 3b and is
arranged horizontally below the laser scanner unit 1a and the
process cartridge B. The lower surface of the board 16 is covered
with a lower cover 40 consisting of a material with a high
conductivity, e.g., a steel plate with an aluminum coat, through an
insulating sheet 38. Similarly, the upper surface of the board 16
is covered with an upper cover 41 consisting of a steel plate with
an aluminum coat. Note that a plurality of ribs 41a are arranged in
the widthwise direction. The circuit board 16 is hermetically
surrounded by the upper and lower covers 40 and 41 mounted
integrally, thus restricting noise. In addition, since the
insulating sheet 38 is inserted between the circuit board 16 and
the lower cover 40, no short circuit occurs between the board 16
and the cover 40 without forming any unnecessary space
therebetween. With this arrangement, a further reduction in size
(profile) of the apparatus can be achieved. The arrangement will be
described in more detail below.
In the embodiment, the lower cover 40 extends almost horizontally
from an intermediate portion (below the fixing unit 5) of the
cassette 3a to its distal end (at which the separation pawl 3a4 is
disposed), and has a curved portion 40a extending upward from the
distal end of the cassette 3a. This curved portion 3a5 and the
above-mentioned guide 3a5 constitute part of the convey path for
recording media. That is, the leading end of the recording medium 2
fed from the cassette 3a is brought into contact with the guide 3a5
and is guided therealong to the position between the roller 3c and
the roller 3e. As the conveyance of the recording medium proceeds
with its leading end being clamped between the roller 3c and the
roller 3e, the recording medium fed from the cassette 3a is
conveyed while its surface is brought into contact with the curved
portion 40a, i.e., while the recording medium is guided by the
curved portion 40a.
One end of the upper cover 41 is joined to the lower cover 40 at a
position near the reverse roller The other end of the upper cover
41 is in surface contact with the lower cover 40 at a position
below the fixing unit 5 through a flat portion 41b of the cover 41
extending from a position near the transfer region Y to a position
near the inlet guide 5f of the fixing unit 5. This contact portion
is fixed to a main body frame 42 with a screw 43. With this
arrangement, the flat portion 41b can reliably and stably guide a
recording medium, which has undergone toner image transfer
processing, to the fixing unit 5. Note that ribs 41a are arranged
on the flat portion 41b in the widthwise direction. Since the
recording medium is conveyed over the ribs 41a, smooth conveyance
is realized by reducing the contact area between the recording
medium and the flat portion 41b.
In order to allow the upper and lower covers 40 and 41 to serve as
a convey guide for recording media, it is important to make both
the upper and lower covers 40 and 41 conductive and grounded and
let them have shapes suitable for a guide. The operator normally
stores recording media in the cassette 3a upon loosening a set of
recording media to improve their separability. In this case, even
if a recording medium is charged, the recording medium can be
smoothly conveyed while it is guided by the covers 40 and 41
without being electrostatically attracted to the covers 40 and
41.
In the embodiment, as will be described later, the covers 40 and 41
are reliably grounded by using an AC inlet. It is, however,
apparent that since the covers 40 and 41 can be grounded by
ensuring sufficient contact between the covers and the conductive
member of the apparatus main body, the AC inlet need not always be
used.
Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 45 denotes an AC inlet. A
terminal 45a of the AC inlet 45 is connected to the composite
electric circuit board 16. A sheet metal tongue portion 45b of the
AC inlet 45 is fixed to the main body frame 42 with the screw 43
while the portion 45b is clamped between edges 40c and 41c of the
upper and lower covers 40 and 41. Therefore, the upper and lower
covers 40 and 41 are reliably grounded through the main body frame
42 to allow the charges of the recording medium 2 to escape to the
main body frame 42 through the upper and lower covers 40 and 41 and
their edges. Note that reference numeral 45d denotes a machine
screw, with which the ground terminal of the inlet 45 is fixed to
the sheet metal of the upper cover 41. In the above-described
embodiment, a steel cover obtained by forming an aluminum coat or
the like on a steel plate is used as each of the upper and lower
covers.
The present invention is not limited to this. For example, a
deposition sheet obtained by depositing a conductive material such
as aluminum on a steel plate or the like may be used. If the upper
and lower covers 40 and 41 are left grounded, a large amount of
charges on the lower surface of the recording medium 2 escape, and
offset may be caused. For this reason, for example, a
Teflon-containing paint or the like is preferably coated on the
surfaces of the upper and lower covers 40 and 41 to set their
surface resistances to be about 10.sup.7 .OMEGA. to 10.sup.16
.OMEGA.. In the embodiment, the surface resistances are set to be
about 10.sup.11 .OMEGA.. As a material for the insulating sheet 38,
a resin material such as polycarbonate, ABS, or high-impact styrol
may be used.
As described above, according to the embodiment, since the electric
circuit board is covered with the cover, noise can be minimized. In
addition, since the cover can also serve as a convey guide for
recording media, a reduction in size of the apparatus can be
realized. Furthermore, by forming the cover from a high-rigidity
material (e.g., a steel plate), the cover can also serve as a
reinforming member for the main body frame. Note that the upper and
lower covers 40 and 41 are integrally joined to each other with the
screw 43 at one end and with a screw 43a at the other end in
surface contact.
Process Cartridge Mounting Means
The process cartridge mounting means will be described below with
reference to FIGS. 1, 5, and 6. FIG. 5 is a perspective view
showing a state wherein the process cartridge is mounted in the
apparatus with its opening/closing cover being closed. FIG. 6 is a
side view of the process cartridge, in which part of the structure
is schematically illustrated as compared with FIG. 1, and the
shapes and the like of some parts are different from those in FIG.
1.
The image forming apparatus A incorporates the cartridge mounting
means for mounting the process cartridge B. Mounting/dismounting of
the process cartridge B with respect to the apparatus main body A
is performed by opening an opening/closing cover 20. More
specifically, the opening/closing cover 20 is fixed to an upper
portion of the apparatus main body B with a hinge 20a. As indicated
by the alternate long and two short dashed lines in FIG. 1, when
the opening/closing cover 20 is opened, a cartridge mounting space
in the apparatus main body B is seen. Left and right guide members
are fixed to the left and right walls inside the apparatus main
body. Guides for inserting the process cartridge B are formed on
the left and right guide members. When the process cartridge B is
inserted along the guides, and the opening/closing cover 20 is
closed, the process cartridge B is mounted in the image forming
apparatus A. According to the embodiment, the process cartridge B
is mounted between the mounting portion 3h of the feed cassette 3a
and the stacking unit 6, on which the recording medium 2a which
have undergone recording processing are stacked, in a direction
perpendicular to the apparatus, by a mounting method to be
described in detail below.
The method will be described in detail below.
Referring to FIG. 5, a main frame 50 constituting the main body has
a positioning portion 50a for the process cartridge B. The process
cartridge B incorporating the photosensitive drum, the developing
means, the cleaning means, and the like has a drum positioning pin
12a for axially supporting the photosensitive drum 7 on a process
cartridge frame member 12. The drum positioning pin 12a includes an
outer flange 12b serving as a bearing, and a drum shaft 12c axially
supported on the outer flange 12b. The photosensitive drum 7 fixed
to the drum shaft 12c is rotated coaxially with the outer flange
12b. When the opening/closing cover 20 is opened to mount the
process cartridge B in the main body, the positioning portion 50a
is located on the deeper side of a guide track 50d of the main
frame 50 of the main body, along which the outer flange 12b of the
drum positioning pin 12a is guided, and is positioned by a rear
portion 50c and a semicircular portion 50e located below the rear
portion 50c to oppose it.
That is, the rear portion 50c is located at a position to resist a
tooth load applied to a drum gear (not shown), and the semicircular
portion 50e is brought into contact with the outer surface of the
outer flange 12b. The opening/closing cover 20, which is
opened/closed when the process cartridge B is replaced or jam
processing is performed, has a hinge 20b engaged with an axial
support portion 20a of the main frame 50. With this arrangement,
the opening/closing cover 20 can be opened/closed. When a lock hole
portion 20c formed in the open-side end portion of the
opening/closing cover 20 is engaged with a lock 50b formed on the
main frame 50, the opening/closing cover 20 is closed. A pawl 50d,
of the lock 50b, which is pivotally supported by a shaft 50c, is
biased outward to a certain limit by a torsion coil spring 50e. An
abutment portion 50g and a pressure spring 51 are formed on the
rear surface of the opening/closing cover 20. The abutment portion
50g is brought into contact with an abutment portion 12b of the
process cartridge frame member 12. The pressure spring 51 presses
the front portion of the process cartridge B.
As shown in FIG. 1, the process cartridge B is inserted from the
direction indicated by an arrow R upon opening the opening/closing
cover 20, and is pushed into the apparatus main body until the
outer flange 12b of the drum positioning pin 12a is brought into
contact with the rear portion 50c of the positioning portion 50a of
the main frame 50. In this case, since the photosensitive drum 7 is
pushed up by the pressing force of the transfer roller 4 but is not
restricted by the abutment portion 50g and the pressure spring 51
of the opening/closing cover 20, the process cartridge B is not
positioned yet. When the opening/closing cover 20 is closed until
the lock hole portion 20c is engaged with the lock 50b, the process
cartridge abutment portion 50g of the opening/closing cover 20 is
brought into contact with the abutment portion 12b of the cartridge
frame member 12, thus pushing up the rear portion of the process
cartridge B. The outer flange 12b of the photosensitive drum
positioning pin 12a is then brought into contact with the
positioning portion 50a of the main frame 50. As a result, the
photosensitive drum 7 is positioned.
In addition, since the process cartridge pressure spring 51 presses
the front portion of the process cartridge B downward, the center
of the photosensitive drum 7 is always pressed against the
positioning portion 50a of the main frame 50 with the abutment
portion 50g serving as a fulcrum. When the operation of the
apparatus main body is started in this state, a drum gear (not
shown) receives a rotational force from a driving gear (not shown),
and a moment M is applied to the overall process cartridge B with
the photosensitive drum 7 serving as the center so as to rotate the
process cartridge B in the clockwise direction in FIG. 6. In the
embodiment, since the process cartridge abutment portion 50g of the
opening/closing cover 20 receives this force, the posture of the
process cartridge B is stabilized. Even if the moment M is abruptly
eliminated due to a torque variation, and the process cartridge B
tries to rotate in the counterclockwise direction, the process
cartridge pressure spring 51 can absorb such a rotational force.
The force, based on the tooth load of the drum gear (not shown),
which tries to cause the process cartridge B to float acts more on
the main body abutment portion 50g than on the pressure spring 51.
Therefore, the process cartridge B does not float. As described
above, in the embodiment, the posture of the process cartridge B is
stably held even at the start time of the apparatus main body.
Overall Arrangement of Apparatus
In the embodiment, as described above, the recording medium 2 fed
from the feed cassette 3a arranged at the lower portion of the
apparatus passes through a so-called "S"-shaped path, and is
stacked on the stacking unit 6 arranged at the upper portion of the
apparatus after the recording medium 2 is reversed twice. The feed
cassette 3a is arranged at the lowermost portion of the apparatus
in the direction of the height of the apparatus (in the vertical
direction), and the electric circuit board 16 and the fixing unit 5
are arranged above the cassette 3a in this order. The laser scanner
unit 1a and the process cartridge B are then arranged above the
fixing unit 5. The stacking unit 6 on which recording media which
have undergone recording processing are stacked is located at the
uppermost portion of the apparatus to cross these components. In
addition, the feed cassette 3a is completely housed in the
apparatus main body A and does not protrude from the apparatus main
body A. In the horizontal direction, the fixing unit 5, the laser
scanner unit 1a, and the process cartridge B are arranged almost in
a line in the apparatus. Furthermore, these three components are
arranged so as not to overlap each other in the direction of
height. The electric circuit board 16 is located above the feed
cassette 3a and is arranged below the laser scanner unit 1a and the
process cartridge B to cross them. In addition, since the upper and
loser covers 40 and 41 are arranged to cover both the upper and
lower surfaces of the electric circuit board 16, noise can be
prevented almost completely. Moreover, since part of the covers 40
and 41 is located between the distal end of the feed cassette and
the reverse roller 3c, and another part of the covers 40 and 41 is
located between the copy region Y and the fixing unit 5, the covers
also serve as a convey guide for recording media.
The laser scanner unit 1a is inclined in the same direction as the
direction of inclination of the stacking surface 6a of the stacking
unit 6 to emit a laser beam in the same direction of
inclination.
With the above-described arrangement, the embodiment realizes a
reduction in size of the apparatus in both the direction of height
(vertical direction) and the horizontal direction. Furthermore, in
spite of the reduction in height (low-profile), a sufficient number
of recording media can be stacked on the stacking unit 6.
In addition, according to the embodiment, in the horizontal
direction, the process cartridge B, the laser scanner unit 1a, and
the fixing unit 5 are sequentially arranged in the apparatus in the
order named from the apparatus front surface (front side) F side,
and hence mounting/dismounting of the process cartridge B can be
performed from the front side of the apparatus. Therefore, the
mounting/dismounting performance of the cartridge is improved.
Furthermore, all the following operations can be performed from the
front surface F side of the apparatus main body: the
mounting/dismounting operation of the feed cassette (in the
direction indicated by the arrow Z in FIG. 1), the
mounting/dismounting operation of the process cartridge (in the
direction indicated by the arrow R in FIG. 1), and removing of the
recording media 2 which have undergone recording processing and are
stacked on the stacking unit (in the direction indicated by the
arrow S in FIG. 1). Therefore, the operability of these operations
performed by the operator is greatly improved.
Another Embodiment
The schematic functional block diagram of the above-described
apparatus will be described next with reference to FIG. 7.
Referring to FIG. 7, reference numeral 200 denotes the control unit
for performing the overall control of the apparatus. The control
unit 200 includes the CPU 201 such as a microprocessor, the ROM 202
for storing control programs for the CPU 201 and various data, the
RAM 203 used as a work area of the CPU 201 and designed to
temporarily store various data, and the like.
The control unit 200 is arranged on the composite electric circuit
board 16 and receives various information from a host computer 300
through the image processing circuit board 17. The control Unit 200
controls the feed unit 3k, the laser scanner 1a, the transfer
roller 4, the fixing unit 5, the driving motor 15, the developing
unit 10, the charging roller 8, and the like on the basis of these
pieces of information and the like.
In the embodiment, the composite electric circuit board, which is
obtained by mounting all the AC input unit 401, the DC power supply
unit 402, the high-voltage power supply unit 403, and the control
circuit unit on one printed board, is exemplified. It is apparent,
however, that even if the respective elements are mounted on
different printed boards, and they are coupled to each other
afterward, the same effect as that described above can be obtained.
In addition, the electric circuit board need not include all the
components described above, i.e., the AC input unit, the DC power
supply unit, the high-voltage power supply unit, the control
circuit unit, and the like, but may include at least one of them.
However, the more the electric circuit board includes components,
the better the effect is.
Another Embodiment
Another embodiment will be described in detail below with reference
to FIGS. 8 to 10. Note that the same reference numerals in this
embodiment denote the same parts having the same functions as in
the above-described embodiment, and the above description will be
quoted.
FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of the main part of a compact
laser beam printer. Referring to FIG. 8, a composite electric
equipment unit 9 is arranged to be adjacent to the lower surface
(lower side) of a convey guide plate 80. A paper feed cassette 70
in which recording sheets P are stored is arranged to oppose the
convey guide plate 80 through the composite electric equipment unit
9.
The recording sheets P stacked on the paper feed cassette 70 are
fed upon rotation of a pickup roller 71. At this time, the
recording sheets P are separated one by one by a separation pawl
65. The recording sheet P is then conveyed to a transfer roller 4
by a convey roller pair 63 through a convey path 66 of an inlet
convey guide 67 while the recording sheet P is aligned with a
reference surface to prevent skew movement, and a registration
sensor (not shown) is operated. In this case, this convey operation
is synchronized with image information light which is emitted from
a laser scanner unit 75 in response to a signal from the
registration sensor, reflected by a reflecting mirror 77, and
radiated on a photosensitive drum 7 of a process cartridge B.
The image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 upon radiation of the
laser beam is developed by a toner. The toner image is then
transferred onto the recording sheet P by the transfer roller A.
The recording sheet P on which the toner image is transferred is
separated from the photosensitive drum 7 and is conveyed to a
fixing unit 81 through the convey guide plate 80. The toner image
on the recording sheet is fixed by the fixing unit 81. The
resultant sheet is guided by a convey guide 68 as a U-turn path and
is discharged onto a discharge tray 87 on the upper portion of the
apparatus main body by a discharging roller pair 85 with the
image-formed surface of the recording sheet P facing down.
Reference numeral 88 denotes a fan for producing an air flow.
The arrangement of portions around the composite electric circuit
board 16 and the paper feed cassette 70 and their positional
relationship in this embodiment will be described in detail next
with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a convey unit (the convey guide
plate 80), an electric equipment unit 59 (the composite electric
circuit board 16, an electric equipment member for a power supply,
a conductive cover 57, and an insulating case 58), and the paper
feed cassette 70 in detail. FIG. 10 shows a detailed arrangement of
part of the structure in FIG. 9.
In the electric equipment unit 59 shown in FIG. 9, at least one of
the following electric equipment members is mounted on the
composite electric circuit board 16: an AC power supply circuit
through which the apparatus main body receives AC power, a
low-voltage power supply circuit for converting the AC power into
DC power, a high-voltage power supply circuit for converting
low-voltage power into high-voltage power to perform image
formation by an electrophotographic process, a control circuit for
controlling the apparatus main body, and the like. The resultant
circuit board 16 is then housed in one thin-walled insulating case
58 consisting of a molding resin, e.g., an ABS resin or a
polycarbonate resin, so as to be formed into a unit. The unit is
arranged on a portion (bottom portion), of the apparatus main body
51, which is located close to and opposes the lower surface of the
convey guide plate 80. Note that the insulating case 58 may be
formed by bonding a vinyl chloride or polyethylene terephthalate
film on a member consisting of a material other than the
above-mentioned resin. The insulating case 58 is covered with a
conductive cover 57 consisting of a rigid material having good
surface conductivity, such as a steel plate with an aluminum coat
or a steel plate with a zinc coat. The insulating case 58 is
supported on the conductive cover 57. The conductive cover 57 is
fixed to a frame (not shown) of the apparatus main body.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a flange 56a of an AC inlet cover 56
consisting of a metal sheet, which is connected to the FG (frame
ground) terminal of an AC inlet 55 is clamped/fixed between a
flange portion 57a of the conductive cover 57 and a flange 80a of
the convey guide plate 80. With this arrangement, the convey guide
plate 80 and the conductive cover 57 are set to an FG potential.
Note that reference numeral 55a denotes an inlet terminal; and 56b,
a screw.
In addition, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the flanges 80a and 57a
respectively formed at the edges of the convey guide plate 80 and
the conductive cover 57 are brought into contact and fixed with
each other, thus constituting a closed structure. The paper feed
cassette 70 has a recording sheet P storage portion facing the
conductive cover 57. A convey guide portion 57b of the conductive
cover 57, which is continuous with the convey guide plate 80
constitutes a convey path 66 having an inward curve when viewed
from the left so as to be spaced apart from an outlet path wall 70a
of the paper feed cassette 70 and the inlet convey guide 67.
When the recording sheet P is picked up from the paper feed
cassette 70 disposed below the electric equipment unit 59, the
recording sheet P is conveyed in contact with the conductive cover
57. Since the potential of the conductive cover 57 is decreased to
the FG potential, the charges on the recording sheet P can be
removed at the contact portion between the recording sheet P and
the conductive cover 57.
With the above-described arrangement, the following advantages can
be obtained:
1 Since the electric equipment unit 59 is fixed to the frame (not
shown) of the apparatus main body A through the conductive cover 57
having high rigidity, the conductive cover 57 serves as a
reinforcing member for the frame of the apparatus main body A, thus
increasing the strength of the main body frame.
2 since the recording sheet P is conveyed from the paper feed
cassette 70 to the transfer unit while the recording sheet P is in
contact with the conductive cover 57 whose potential is decreased
to the FG potential, the charges on the recording sheet P can be
easily removed. Therefore, an improvement in the quality of a
transferred image is realized.
3 Since an electric equipment member is housed in the box-like
space formed by a material having good surface conductivity, the
outside of the electric equipment member constitutes a closed loop
of FG. With this arrangement, noise generated by electric circuits
in the electric equipment portion can be easily prevented.
4 The conventional arrangement of the portions around the electric
equipment unit (i.e., insulating sheet, conductive sheet and
insulating resin) can be simplified (into thin) film resin and
conductive member), thereby further improving the assembly
efficiency.
Process Cartridge
The arrangement of each component of the process cartridge B
mounted in the image forming apparatus A will be described
next.
The process cartridge B includes an image bearing member and at
least one process means. In this case, the process means includes a
charging means for charging the surface of the image bearing
member, a developing means for forming a toner image on the image
bearing member, a cleaning means for removing the residual toner on
the surface of the image bearing member, and the like. As shown in
FIG. 1, the process cartridge B of the embodiment is designed such
that a charging means 8, an exposure opening 9, a developing means
10, and a cleaning means 11 are arranged around the photosensitive
drum 7 as an image bearing member, and these components are covered
with a housing constituted by a frame member 12 to form an integral
structure. This structure is designed to be detachable from the
apparatus main body A.
The arrangements of the respective components of the process
cartridge B, i.e., the photosensitive drum 7, the charging means 8,
the exposure unit 9, the developing means 10, and the cleaning
means 11 will be described below in the order named.
Photosensitive Drum
The photosensitive drum 7 according to the embodiment is formed by
coating an organic photosensitive layer on the outer surface of a
cylindrical drum base member formed of aluminum. The photosensitive
drum 7 is pivotally fixed to the frame member 12. The
photosensitive drum 7 is rotated in the direction indicated by the
arrow in FIG. 1 in accordance with an image forming operation by
transmitting the driving force of a driving motor mounted on the
apparatus main body side to a gear (not shown) fixed to one end of
the drum 7 in the longitudinal direction.
Charging Means
The charging means serves to uniformly charge the surface of the
photosensitive drum 7. In the embodiment, a so-called contact
charging method is used, in which a charging roller 8 is pivotally
mounted on the frame member 12. The charging roller 8 is formed as
follows. First a conductive elastic layer is formed on a roller
shaft 8a. An elastic layer having a high resistance is formed on
the conductive elastic layer. A protective film is further formed
on the surface of the resultant structure. The conductive elastic
layer is formed by dispersing carbon particles in an elastic rubber
layer such as an EPDM or NBR layer, and serves to introduce a bias
voltage applied to the roller shaft 8a. The high-resistance elastic
layer is composed of a urethane rubber layer containing a small
amount of conductive powder, for example. The high-resistance
elastic layer serves to prevent an abrupt drop in bias voltage by
restricting a leak current to the photosensitive drum 7 even when
the charging roller having high conductivity is brought into
contact with pinholes and the like of the photosensitive drum 7.
The protective layer is constituted by an N-methylmethoxy nylon
layer, for example. The protective layer prevents the plastic
material of the conductive elastic layer or of the high-resistance
elastic layer from coming into contact with the photosensitive drum
7, thus preventing a change in properties of the surface of the
photosensitive drum 7.
In an image forming operation, the charging roller 8 is brought
into contact with the photosensitive drum 7 and is rotated upon
rotation of the photosensitive drum 7. At this time, by applying DC
and AC voltages to the charging roller 8 upon superposing the
voltages, the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is uniformly
charged.
Exposure Unit
The exposure opening 9 serves to form an electrostatic latent image
on the surface, of the photosensitive drum 7, which has been
uniformly charged by the charging roller 8, by focusing an optical
image radiated from an optical system 1 onto the drum surface. The
exposure unit is constituted by an optical path which is formed
above the developing means 10 to guide the optical image. The
charging roller 8 and the cleaning means 11 are arranged on the
upstream side of the optical path with respect to the direction of
rotation of the drum 7, and the developing means 10 is arranged on
the downstream side.
Developing Means
As shown in FIG. 1, the developing means 10 has a toner container
10a for storing a toner t. A toner feed member (not shown) which is
rotated to feed the toner is arranged in the toner container 10a.
In addition, a developing sleeve 10 incorporating a magnet (not
shown) is arranged to oppose the photosensitive drum 7 with a small
gap. The developing sleeve 10 is rotated to form a thin toner layer
on its surface. The small gap is ensured by spacers (not shown)
which are respectively fixed to the two ends of the developing
sleeve 10 in the longitudinal direction to be in contact with the
surface of the photosensitive drum 7.
When a toner layer is formed on the surface of the developing
sleeve, frictional charges large enough to develop the
electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum are obtained
from the friction between the toner and the developing sleeve. A
developing blade 10b is arranged to regulate the thickness of a
toner layer.
Cleaning Means
As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning means 11 is constituted by a
cleaning blade 11 which is brought into contact with the surface of
the photosensitive drum 7 to scrape off the residual toner on the
drum 7, a scooping sheet (not shown) which is located below the
blade 11 and is in slight contact with the surface of the
photosensitive drum 7 to scoop the scraped toner, and a waste toner
container 11b for storing the scraped waste toner.
The above-described process cartridge is a cartridge in which the
charging means, the developing means or the cleaning means, and the
electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally
incorporated. This cartridge is designed to be detachable from the
image forming apparatus. Alternatively, at least one of the
charging means, the developing means, and the cleaning means, and
the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrated into a
cartridge to be detachable with respect to the main body of the
image forming apparatus. In addition, the process cartridge is a
cartridge in which at least the developing means and the
electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally
incorporated so as to be detachable from the apparatus main
body.
According to the present invention described in detail above, there
is provided an image forming apparatus which can realize a further
reduction in size.
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